catch-up!

Sorry to have been out of commission for so long! Friday was my birthday, and it was so fun-packed that I didn’t have any energy to blog by the end. The girls were so sweet to me all day. Lydia kept wishing me happy birthday and let me sleep in as a birthday present. I asked her if she could entertain herself so I could sleep longer on my birthday–selfish, I know, but she was so sweet! She went potty, brushed her teeth, and played quietly while I slept an extra hour. Mary also kept saying, “Happy! Happy!” to me all day long. That’s how she says “happy birthday.”

Lydia wanted to help Mary get dressed in the morning. Mary appreciated the help.
Lydia wanted to help Mary get dressed in the morning. Mary appreciated the help.
Lydia and I baked this on my birthday.
Lydia and I baked this on my birthday.
Mary spotted the cake upon awaking from her nap, and she refused to eat anything else.
Mary spotted the cake upon awaking from her nap, and she refused to eat anything else.

 

Abe and I used a groupon to go to Cucina Toscana for dinner, and it was wonderful. Suzanne was an angel and baby-sat for us all evening. We were so grateful!

beef carpaccio.
beef carpaccio.
house made gnocchi in a stupendous tomato sauce, and a mind-blowing spinach lemon ravioli and a mornay sauce.
house made gnocchi in a stupendous tomato sauce, and a mind-blowing spinach lemon ravioli and a mornay sauce.
a truly terrific Cesear.
a truly terrific Cesear.
Sea bass with calms and shrimp.
Sea bass with calms and shrimp.
duck with macerated figs and spinach
duck with macerated figs and spinach

On Saturday, I got up at 5:30 so I could go to yoga. Then I came home and we all went to the pool for a swim.

We got to the pool and realized it wasn't free swim time. The lifeguard was so kind and let us put the kids in a swim lesson that was going on --for free! Mary and Lydia both learned to float, jump in, and kick!
We got to the pool and realized it wasn’t free swim time. The lifeguard was so kind and let us put the kids in a swim lesson that was going on –for free! Mary and Lydia both learned to float, jump in, and kick!

Then we met up with Karin and Jay for lunch at Gourmandise. I have been dreaming about their creme brulee oatmeal ever since I got it when I went to breakfast with Aria a while back. Daydreams were fulfilled.

Mary cuddled with Karin for such a long time. We finally had to take her and try to make her eat something, but she looked pretty content here.
Mary cuddled with Karin for such a long time. We finally had to take her and try to make her eat something, but she looked pretty content here.
Jay relaxing at Gourmandise.
Jay relaxing at Gourmandise.
Lydia picked out this cookie after lunch. That's a mouse cookie. It's a chocolate truffle coated with ganache on a lemony cookie base with a bit of raspberry flling.
Lydia picked out this cookie after lunch. That’s a mouse cookie. It’s a chocolate truffle coated with ganache on a lemony cookie base with a bit of raspberry flling.
Mary eating her mouse cookie.
Mary eating her half of the mouse cookie.

Then we went grocery shopping, took a nap, and got ready for our dinner.

Mary "drove the car" with Abe while I grocery shopped.
Mary “drove the car” with Abe while I grocery shopped.

I made a ton of food, but whenever we have guests I always think we’re going to run out of food. Whenever my parents threw parties growing up, we would eat leftovers for weeks; my dad never wanted to run out of food at a party. I think I inherited my fear of running out of food from him. Anyway, I made Jamaican jerk steak, kasha (threw it out because I did it wrong and replaced it with cous cous), carrot salad, roasted veggies, balsamic blackberry gingered strawberries, corn on the cob, and chimichurri sauce. Candace brought Harmon’s bread and Emily brought a marvelous fruit salad. Unfortunately, I was having so much fun with everyone that I forgot to take pictures. Abe did manage to take a picture of the cake with his phone (Gourmandise had a Groupon for cake!):

Gourmandise had a Groupon for a birthday cake. This was a chocolate truffle raspberry cake. It was to die for.
Gourmandise had a Groupon for a birthday cake. This was a chocolate truffle raspberry cake. It was to die for.
The girls played outside before our party.
The girls played outside before our party.

june21pic5We had to set up an extra table for the party since we had seven grown-ups and five kids. While Abe was taking down the table, he sliced off a good portion of the padding on his finger. He cut off the flap with a scissors, and it’s still bleeding (a full twenty-four hours later). He spent most of last night in excruciating pain. I was up until midnight talking with Candace, and I didn’t realize how much pain Abe was in until he called me up because he was struggling so much. I felt so sorry for him! Today it’s not as painful, although we’re going to douse it in hydrogen peroxide soon, and I’m sure that will be torture for him. Say a prayer for Abe.

We got to church half an hour late today because I was prepping for our post-church picnic.

After church we had a picnic today with Ben, Candace, Cadence, Bentley, Aria, Stephen, and Balu.
After church we had a picnic today with Ben, Candace, Cadence, Bentley, Aria, Stephen, and Balu.
The girls loved playing while we ate.
The girls loved playing while we ate.

After our picnic, Candace and Ben drove back to Idaha. I hated to see them go and felt really lonely and sad with the house empty. I wish Candace lived closer.

I treated my sorrow with a nap, and when we woke up, the house still felt empty. We called Mike and Paige at that point and asked if they could come over to help us finish off the million pounds of leftover food in our fridge. They were wonderful and came. We spent hours discussing the disciplinary council of Kate Kelly and John Dehlin. It was really cathartic, and I felt like I learned a lot from the discussion.

Liv ate some pink paint today.
Liv ate some pink paint today.
Mary somehow got covered in marker while we were getting food out for dinner with the Andersons. Her face matched her dress.
Mary somehow got covered in marker while we were getting food out for dinner with the Andersons. Her face matched her dress.

Mike pointed out that Utah twilight lasts hours, and we enjoyed it all evening. It was a perfect night. This June has been so glorious.